Outlook: Machida (19-4), a former UFC light-heavyweight champion, drops down in weight to make his debut at 185 pounds against Munoz (13-3), a former NCAA national wrestling champion, in the main event.

Prediction: Machida has a huge edge in the striking department, but Munoz does possess one-punch KO power. Munoz can do a lot of damage with his ground-and-pound if he can land a takedown. The problem is Machida's elusiveness and ability to control distance. Machida begins a new chapter in his career with a victory over Munoz.

Record in 2013 picks: 27-9

CARLOS ARIAS

Former Strikeforce lightweight champion Gilbert Melendez knew what he was getting into when he signed to fight Diego Sanchez at UFC 166.

“When you fight Diego, you get the chills, like, ‘Ooh, it's going to be messy here,’” Melendez said leading up to the fight. “He's a guy I know I can beat, but it's a tough situation, its going to be a tough fight. It's going to hurt, it's going to be a battle and it's a dangerous fight.”

Melendez was right on all accounts. Melendez and Sanchez engaged in an epic slugfest Saturday that is already being hailed as the fight of the year and one of the best fights in UFC history. Melendez came away with a three-round unanimous decision, but there was no loser in the eyes of the fans.

“(Sanchez) is a warrior,” Melendez, a former Santa Ana High wrestling star, told Fox Sports. “People back down from him. I was backpedaling a little bit, but I was holding my ground. It was a real honor to get in there and tangle with him. I feel like he brought the best out in me, and I brought the best out in him. I don’t think anyone wants to fight us in a small cage. We’re warriors who fight. People who beat us tend to try to not fight us.”

The fight featured countless back-and-forth exchanges. Both fighters showed incredible toughness by standing in the pocket and winging bombs at each other. Sanchez was badly cut in the final round, but he continued to charge forward. Melendez never backed down. The fight ended with both fighters exchanging wild power shots.

“In the 13 years of being in this company, we've seen some amazing fights,” UFC president Dana White said at the post-fight news conference. “I don't think I've ever seen a fight like that. The fight was insane.”

White said the victory put Melendez, who lost a controversial split decision to then-UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson in his UFC debut in April, back in the title picture. Melendez and Sanchez both said they are open to a rematch.

“I think at some point, for the fans, we might need to,” Melendez said. “I don’t think there is anyone tougher than (Sanchez) in this division. There might be guys out there who can beat us on the scorecard, but there ain’t no one who has the guts out there that we do. Doing this together, nothing is ever going to match that.”

MUNOZ TO FACE GOOD FRIEND

Mark Munoz of Lake Forest was set to fight Michael Bisping of Orange at UFC Fight Night 30 before an eye injury forced Bisping off the card. Former UFC light-heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, who was already preparing to fight Tim Kennedy, became Munoz's new opponent for Saturday's main event at noon on Fox Sports 2 from Manchester, England.

“There's a lot of thoughts going up against a friend and training partner and guy you respect,” Munoz said of Machida. “There's something that we as athletes have to do. There was nobody else to fight and we were free and it was something that we had to do. I'm excited about it. It is a greater fight than Michael Bisping. I'm not taking anything away from Michael Bisping, but any time it's a former world champion, I mean, it does bear a lot of weight. A win over Lyoto definitely puts my name in the mix for a title shot.”

Machida and his Blackhouse teammates sought out Munoz, a former NCAA national wrestling champion, to help them with their wrestling a couple of years ago.

“That's something that he's always wanted to work on,” Munoz said. “That's something that he asked me to help him with. I worked with Blackhouse before and I love those guys as brothers. I see those guys over there as good friends of mine. For him to ask me, I felt like, ‘Oh great, yeah. I would love to help you in learning wrestling.’ At the same time he was able to give me some striking tips of his own. We do have a similar circumstance here. He knows what I do and I know what he does.”

Machida held the UFC title at 205 pounds and this will be his first fight at 185 pounds.

“Lyoto was a light-heavyweight, but he wasn't an overwhelming force as far as size is concerned at light-heavyweight,” Munoz said. “He at times weighed in at 199 (pounds), 201, 202. He weighed in well under the weight class. Having said that, I don't think him dropping down is going to be a big issue for him. I think he is very smart and very professional and he's actually going to cut weight well. So I don't think it's going to be that big of an issue.

“But having said that, if I see signs of fatigue, if I see him slowing down, if I see him breathing heavy, I'm going to push a little bit harder. I always pride myself on my conditioning. I always tell everybody in the gym you want to break your opponent's will.”

SONNEN, SILVA TO COACH

Longtime rivals Chael Sonnen and Wanderlei Silva will be the opposing coaches on “The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3,” White announced this week. UFC officials confirmed that both coaches will be coaching Brazilian fighters, but Silva is pushing for the format to be USA vs. Brazil.

“It’s official, I’ll be responsible for representing our country and yes, I’ll make him pay for everything he said about us,” Silva posted on his Facebook page. “I asked Dana to do a USA vs. Brazil season.”

Tryouts for the next season of TUF will take place in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 11, in three weight classes – middleweight, light-heavyweight and heavyweight.

“He picks his fighters, the ones he believes are the best of the United States, and I’ll pick Brazil’s best,” Silva said. “There’s no reason why he should coach our (Brazilian) fighters, but I want to pick our fighters. Let’s ask the boss (White), send him a message on Twitter asking for that.”

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